aqua lung women - ambassadors

Cody Unser

Cody's First Step Foundation

Humanitarian

Since being paralyzed in the 6th grade by a spinal cord inflammation, Transverse Myelitis (TM), Cody has raced nonstop to raise awareness and find a cure. As the daughter of Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., she dreams of walking on the racetrack one day.

When she was just 14, she and her mother, Shelley, formed the Cody Unser First Step Foundation, which is dedicated to providing quality–of–life programs for those suffering from paralysis. These programs include a TM research consortium spearheaded by Johns Hopkins Hospital; Cody's Great Scuba Adventure, created to share her new found freedom for all disabilities; and "Operation Deep Down", a military diving program that introduces wounded veterans to scuba as a way to rehabilitate through recreation.

Cody is a political activist who has testified before Congress and lobbied nationwide for stem cell research, following in the foot steps of her friend, late actor Christopher Reeve.

Each year in North America, one young person is chosen by the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society to work side by side with current underwater leaders. The Scholar will participate in field studies, dive training and underwater research.

Megan found her love of the ocean early in life and is eager to share her enthusiasm with the world. A free diver and scuba diver with nearly 500 logged dives, she has researched in both tropical and temperate environments. Megan became a PADI Divemaster in 2009 and has been active teaching new divers science and skills as part of the Oregon State University and University of Hawaii diving safety programs. A science extrovert, Megan will spend this year exploring bridges between research, media, industry, and expeditions. Her ambition lies in fostering ocean literacy and boosting a conservation ethic throughout the world.

Megan is thrilled to be representing Aqualung and OWUSS as the 2012 North American Scholar.